Electric fixture.



E. G. SUITER.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE. APPLICATIOKIILED APR. 30, 1907.

' Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

JNVENTO/Ga A TTORNE Y5 WW Z Z' EDGAR cYnUs SUITER, OF OLYMPIA,WASHINGTON.

ELE CTRIG FIXTURE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed April 30, 1907. Serial No. 371,107.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, EDGAR CYRUS SUITER, a citizen. of the United States,residing at Olympia, in the county of Thurston and State of Washington,have invented a new and usefulElectric Fixture, of which the followingis a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in electric fixtures, andmore especially to that class adapted for use in adjusta-bly supportingincandescent lamps, and it has for its object to provide a device ofthis character havinga reel capable of containing a considerable lengthof conducting cord to '2 enable the lamp to be supported at differentheights, devices being employed for automatically winding the cord tocarry the lamp out of the way, and for retaining the lamp at any desiredheight, the construction being comparatively simple so that the partsare not able to get out of order, and the devices may be'made to sell ata relatively low price.

To these and other ends, the invention comprises the-various novelfeatures of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, whichwill be more fully described hereinafter, and set forth particularly inthe claim appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawingz-Figure 1 represents a central verticalsection of an electric fixture constructed in accordance with my presentinvention. Fig. 2 represents a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a detail view of the stop device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference. I

The fixture shown in the present embodiment of my invention isespecially adapted for use in connection with incandescent electriclamps and similar devices wherein it is desirable to support them atdifferent heights and to enable them to be moved entirely out of the waywhen not in use, and it comprises, in the present instance, a bracketadapted to be attached to a ceiling, wall, or other means of support,the bracket being composed either of a casting of metal, porcelam, or

other suitable material, or of sheet metal bent flatwise to form a pairof vertically extending arms 1 and 2' suitabl spaced to aceonnnodate theoperating elements of the fixture between them, the upper ends of thearms being turned laterally to provide apertured attaclnng lugs 53 and 4adapted to be attached to a ceiling, or other means of support, by anysuitable means, such as screws 5 and 6 respectively. The lower portionsof the arms are convergent and are provided at an intermediate pointwit-h an aperture 7 through which the conducting cord for the lamp orother device passes, the conducting cord 8 in the present instance beingprovided with a ball or other suitable projection S) adapted tocooperate with the bracket at the edges of the aperture to form a stopfor limitingghe winding movement of theconducting cor A suitable lengthof conducting cord is wound upon the reel or spool 10, the latter beingarranged with its axis extending between the bracket arms and having anaxial bearing 11 into the ends of which are fitted insulating bushings12 and 13, the outer ends of the latter being preferably fitted tightlyinto the apertures 14 and 15 respectively in the bracket arms and havingcircumferential shoulders 16 and 17 adapted to cooperate with the endsof the spool or reel to prevent endwise movelnentthereol. The spool isprovided at one side with a pinion 18 and at its opposite side are1nouuted a pair of dogs 19 and 20 pivoted to swing freelyin a laneparallel to the plane of revolution 01? the reel and about the pivots 21and 22 respectively as centers, the ends of these dogs being adapted tocooperate with a ratchet Wheel 23 rigidly secured to the bushing 13, thecentrifiwal force when the spool is revolving rapidly being sullicientto hold the dogs clear of theratchet teeth, although they will cooperatetherewith when the spool is revolving relatively slowly or is at rest. v

Journaled within the bushings 1'3 and 13 is a shaft for the spool, theshaft shown in the resent instance beingcomposed of the divi ed sections24 and 25 arranged in alinement and having their inner ends fitted intoan insulating coupling 26, these sections being provided with axialbores 27 and 28 respectively into which are fitted conducting pins 29and 30, the latter having their outer ends projecting axially beyond theopposite ends of the shaft and adapted to 00- operate with the resilientbrushes 31 and 32 respectively, the latter being secured to the outersides of the bracket. and suitably conneetcd to the line wires. Theinner ends of the conducting pins are electrically connected with theemuluvting cord 8. by means of the screws 33 and 34, and these screws ontend through the respective shaft sections and thereby serve as anoperating connection between the spool and the shaft.

It is preferable to so construct the device that the winding of theconducting cord will be automatic, and for this ur osc a spiralactuating spring 35 is provide this s ring bein mounted between the armsof the brac et having one end attached to the latter by means of the pin36 and its other end operatively-connected to an actuating gear Wheel37, the latter being revolubly mounted on a stud 38 extending throughthe bracket arm, the actuating gear wheel cooperating with the pinion onthe spool and normally operating to turn the latter in a y directionthat will wind the conducting cord thereon, the winding movement of thespool being controlled by the dogs thereon cooperating with the ratchetWheel that is secured to the bracket.

An electric fixture constructed in the manner described serves as aconvenient support or hanger for electric lamps and similar devices, asthe height of the light relatively to the ceiling or any other supportmay be instantly regulated by manipulating the conducting cords afterthe manner of an ordinary window shade, that is to say, the lamp may belowered by merely drawing on the conducting cord, and this will cause awinding of the actuating spring, the direction of the teeth on theratchet wheel being such as to permit the dogs to move freely, and inorder 1 to elevate the lamp, it is only necessary to lower it slightlyto disengage the dogs from the ratchet wheel and then permit its rapidrising movement under the action of the ac tuating spring, thecentrifugal force being suflicient to hold the dogs out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel until the spool reduces its speed of revolution,at which time the dogs will rengage the ratchet wheel to retain the lampat the desired adjustment. During the movements of the spool thecontinuity of the current is maintained through the brushes cooperatingwith the axially arranged conducting pins that are operatively connectedto the spool and electrically connected to the conductor wound thereon.

What is claimed is The combination with supporting arms; of insulatingbushings fixedly mounted therein and extending inwardly therefrom, eachbushing having an annular retainin flange adjacent its inner end, aratchet wheel fixedly mounted on one of said retaining flanges, aliningshafts bearing in and extending through the bushings, an insulatingcoupling between said shafts, a spool journaled upon said cou ling andthe inner ends of the bushings, sai spool being held against longitudinal movement by the retaining means, pawls carried by the spool for enaging the ratchet wheel, conducting pins wit in and extending beyond theouter ends of the shafts, brushes bearing against the outer endsthereof, aconducting cord adapted-to be wound upon the spool, conductingmeans extending into the spool and against the pins for securing thecordlto the spool, and means for rotating the s 00 In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

EDGAR CYRUS SUITER.

Witnesses:

W. M. NUNN, EDITH HUPP.

